handling married students or student couples

[pmshaver]

Any advise on dealing with student couples in clinical. We have one couple who seem to be attached at the hip. There is a cultural issue also. Man is white american, female is korean and somewhat subservient. I have assigned them to separate clinical groups (a standard practice here) and they (especially hubby) is arguing this practice.

Any suggestions?

[caliotter3]

Don't back down, keep them separated. If necessary, counsel them in writing concerning any issues with professionalism. Any time or attention that instructors go above and beyond to deal with any problems with this couple, is a disservice to the other students. Make it clear to both of them that they are not going to receive special considerations or be able to "bully" the staff. I see trouble down the road for these two, no matter what transpires in school.

[lizmatt]

Is there a transportation issue that makes it necessary for them to be in clinical together, like only one car for the family or something like that?

[VickyRN, MSN, DNP, RN]

I agree that they need to be split up - different clinical group, different clinical site, different instructor. Otherwise, many problems can ensue. Do you have anything addressing this sort of issue in your program's policy?

[vickynurse]

Ditto, keep them totally separated.

[Ruby Vee, BSN]

as half of a nurse couple, i agree. keep them separated. it's better for them, especially for the subservient wife who may hesitate to "show up" her husband. they need to be developing their own professional identities. if there's a transportation issue, they can work it out. one of them (or both) can arrange to carpool with another student in the same clinical group. some facilities won't allow them to work together anyway.

[firstyearstudent]

Why would a married couple even want to be together in school? Yuck!